Ministerial Appointment

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:00): Did the minister know and meet all the volunteers who supported him in his re-election campaign?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Stuart—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Regional Roads, Minister for Veterans Affairs) (15:00): I'm not too sure that is a relevant question to me as the minister. I have—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order, minister. Minister, please be seated, there is a point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: He has a very good point, sir: standing order 96, questions concerning public business. The volunteers on an election campaign are not the business of this house.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I understand—

Mr Tarzia interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Is the acting leader making submissions in relation to the point of order that has been raised, in which case I will hear them—

Mr TARZIA: Yes.

The SPEAKER: —or is he raising a new point of order!

Mr TARZIA: No, on that.

The SPEAKER: Very well. I will hear the acting leader.

Mr TARZIA: With all respect, 96 may well apply. However, the minister began to answer the question, and the point of order should be raised at the time not after the commencement of his answer.

The SPEAKER: It is sufficiently contemporaneous for me to take it in hand. I have in mind—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Treasurer is called to order. I have in mind standing order 96, questions concerning public business. I uphold the point of order. I am not certain that what the volunteers may or may not have done, or what visitors to volunteers may or may not have done, is necessarily immediately relevant to any business in this house.

I also remind members, of course, of the important provisions in relation to not imputing improper motives to members in the house as well. I draw your attention to standing order 127.